Heineken Cup pool-by-pool guide

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The competition’s absurd system means that, in theory, the favourites for this group should be Treviso, who are the seeded team because they are the Italian champions. What nonsense. They are, in fact, the weakest side in a relatively weak group.

Perpignan, who finished fifth in the Top 14 in France last season, are the pool favourites, while London Irish and Newport Gwent Dragons have strong hopes of reaching the quarter-finals as runners-up.

As well as the usual collection of international players from France and Argentina, Perpignan have